§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consent to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire what amount the people of the Straits Settlements and Hong Kong ought to pay for military contribution, and what amount they are able to pay for such purpose without interfering with the progress of the several Colonies respectively, and the carrying out of necessary public works, education, etc.?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (MR. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)Her Majesty's Government do not think it would be expedient to assent to the appointment of a Select Committee as proposed. The whole question of the military contribution for the Eastern Colonies is now under the consideration of a special Inter-departmental Committee, and in due course the result 340 arrived at by the Government will be made known.